The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Tony Richardson

Writers:

Alan Sillitoe (screenplay)
Alan Sillitoe (short story)

Release Date:

8 October 1962 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Plot:

A rebellious youth, sentenced to a boy's reformatory for robbing a bakery, rises through the ranks of...

Plot Keywords:

Runner | Running | Juvenile Delinquent | Teenage Boy | Athlete

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win

Cast

Michael Redgrave	...	Ruxton Towers Reformatory governor
Tom Courtenay	...	Colin Smith
Avis Bunnage	...	Mrs. Smith
Alec McCowen	...	Brown, House Master
James Bolam	...	Mike
Joe Robinson	...	Roach
Dervis Ward	...	Detective
Topsy Jane	...	Audrey
Julia Foster	...	Gladys
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ray Austin	...	Craig
John Brooking	...	Green
John Bull	...	Ronalds
James Cairncross	...	Mr. Jones
Peter Duguid	...	Doctor
Raymond Dyer	...	Gordon, Mrs. Smith's Boyfriend
Frank Finlay	...	Booking Office Clerk
James Fox	...	Willy Gunthorpe - Ranley School Runner
William Ash Hammond	...	Johnny Smith
Peter Kriss	...	Scott
Peter Madden	...	Mr. Smith
Philip Martin	...	Stacy, Drake House Leader
Arthur Mullard	...	Craig
Christopher Parker	...	Bill Smith
Robert Percival	...	Tory Politician
Anthony Sagar	...	Fenton
John Thaw	...	Bosworth
Chris Williams	...	Public School Boy

Also Known As:

Rebel with a Cause

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Hong Kong:IIA | Finland:S | Sweden:15 | UK:12 (re-rating) (2002) | UK:15 (video rating) (1990) | UK:X (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Camber Sands, Camber, East Sussex, England, UK

Company:

Woodfall Film Productions

Trivia:

First film of Julia Foster.

Quotes:

Colin Smith: Running's always been a big thing in our family, especially running away from the police.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Master Ninja II (#4.24)" (1992)

Superb 60's drama. Every scene is Courtney's

"Where the bloody hell have *you* been?" I'm sure this phrase appears in every black & white British 'kitchen sink' film of the time, usually asked by the exhausted mother or father of their wayward son. Colin Smith is a lad who is on the verge of becoming uncontrollable. Low-level crime and an aversion to authority make him every mother's nightmare. When his father dies and his mother takes up with a slimy fancy-man, Colin gets even worse and rebels. When he is convicted of burglary he is sent to Borstal and expected to bow down to the harsh routine, but his talent for running is spotted by the governor and he is encouraged to train for the inter-school Cup against the local 'posh' school. Will Colin do his duty? The film takes the unusual (for its time) structure of long flashbacks to Colin's home life while he is training. This is very effective and puts life into what could have been a rather dull film. There is one joyous scene in which Colin is first allowed out of the borstal gates to train - the sun is shining, we can almost smell the cool, fresh air and the soundtrack bursts into some glorious jazz trumpet. It's such an uplifting tune and so typical of its period that this film would be worth the price of the DVD just for this moment. Despite the depressing theme and grimy visuals, this film - made at the height of the 'gritty British drama' period of the 60's - is a delight.